Start a Daily Gratitude Practice

A bit of gratitude goes a long way, particularly in times of stress. Start a daily gratitude practice as individuals and/or as a family.

What is gratitude?
Gratitude is about focusing on what's good in our lives and being thankful for the things we have. It means pausing to notice & appreciate the things we often take for granted (food, clean water, our house, friends, family, etc). We can use lots of words to describe feelings of gratitude: We might say we feel thankful, lucky, fortunate, humbled, or blessed.

Why does gratitude matter?
Brain research shows that positive emotions are good for our bodies, minds, and brains. Positive emotions boost our ability to learn and make good decisions, balance our negative emotions and help build better relationships.

Ideas for practicing daily gratitude
Start a journal. You can order an official gratitude journal (we like this one from Amazon) or just grab a composition book. Little kids can get creative by decorating covers with words & images. Set aside for daily writing - first thing in the morning or before bed are great times.

Do daily gratitude at dinner. Take turns going around the table and say one thing you’re grateful for. Can be big (health, safety) or small (no homework!)